William Joe Gail Cox

William Joe Gail Cox, 82, of Bowie, Texas, went home to be with his Lord and Savior on Sunday, October 19, 2025, in Wichita Falls, Texas. 

A memorial service honoring Bill will be held at 2:00 p.m. Saturday, October 25, 2025, in the chapel of Owens & Brumley Funeral Home in Wichita Falls, Texas.

William was born on November 6, 1942, to Walter Gail and Evelyn Cox in Fort Worth, Texas. 

William married Sarah Ann Hearn on April 10, 1960. “Bill”, as his many friends and family knew him, started his professional career as a land surveyor for the City of Fort Worth, Texas, and later moved to Bowie, Texas, to continue as a Party Chief and field supervisor for Hardy Seay Surveying until his retirement in 2003. Bill was an avid outdoorsman. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, and spent endless hours searching for and collecting arrowheads and Native American artifacts with his father and other family members. His storytelling, sense of humor, and kindness will be dearly missed. “Papa” loved his family beyond measure and took great pride in all of them.

William is survived by his daughter; Teresa Thompson and husband John of Wichita Falls, Texas; granddaughters, Natasha Castillo and husband Tony of Fort Worth, Texas, Heather Rojas and husband Robert of Midlothian, Texas, Ashley Davis of Ardmore, Oklahoma, and Harley Cribbs of Burkburnett, Texas; two great-grandsons; nine great-granddaughters; sister, Carolyn Lampkin; brother, Randall Cox and wife, Jeanette; Step-mother, Peggy Cox; Sister-In-Law, Gloria Cox; and many nieces and nephews.

William was preceded in death by his father, Walter Gail Cox; mother, Evelyn Phelps Kirkland; brothers, Lawrence Cox, Rusty Cox, and Steve Cox; Wife, Sarah Ann Cox; and Daughter, Tammy Lanee Cribbs.

Condolences may be sent to the family at owensandbrumley.com